Great news!
I was able to spend about 15minutes with Whisky before it got dark. He’s in such great shape. Actually looking better than I’ve ever seen him. Maybe this is because when he kills he has it all to himself. That’s if the hyaenas don’t arrive.
I had to leave him to move on to Khayeni, the young female leopard we’ve had a couple of guys following for the last few months. She had a radio collar on her, which is such a hindrance so we decided to implant a transmitter in her stomach cavity. It just sits there loose and the animals are non the wiser that it’s there.
Now that she is back to her natural beauty, in a few days time I’ll start filming her.
The other good news is that while we were busy with the leopard we heard 2 wild dogs calling to the north. So here’s holding thumbs Whisky has found himself a friend!
I left camp at dawn and was confronted with a very quiet morning. Which didn’t liven up all day.
Eventually driving along the Chiredzi river at dusk, none other than Stompie popped out the woodwork. Him and another bull were just chilling in the river.
But at Chekwa pan in the last few minutes of light, that truly ‘golden hour’, a herd of buffalo were on the move. The backlit dust with their silhouettes in front of it, were just so stunning.
And shortly afterwards I found a herd of wildebeest with some similar great photos.
Oh it’s hell in Africa!!! I’m just loving it!
(With yesterdays complications with technology we weren’t able to get the blog out. Not through lack of trying)
It is a real pleasure seeing those wonderful photos, watching the interesting vid and hearing some good news about Whiskey.
Thank you so much, that made my day!
By the way, how can you distinguish between the many members of the elephant herd? Just by the way they look??
What great news!
Hope Whisky has found a friend and I can’t wait to hear the stories from the young female leopard Khayeni.
Kim, beautiful photo’s of the wildebeest. Thanx man!
What camera do you use to take your stills?
Hope ur having a great day? Look forward to your shots tomorrow.
Regards
Vivian
how the transmitter stays in the stomach area?, and how long does it stay in there?
never heard of doing this way.
The transmitter is actually in the body cavity and not in her actually stomach - right?
Very cool procedure on the top of a jeep ! Look forward to following her as we did TJ. Last I heard he was looking fit and well.
Thank you for all your good works Kim!
That’s thrilling news about Whisky! It must have been great to see him so fit.
Hey, I know it’s not my place and it may be too early yet but if Whisky’s located a new lady friend can I drop a name in the hat for her? I like the ring of Gin; it’s a good name for a clever girl.
I’m glad you’re in such good spirits lately.
Carolin: I can only distinguish about 20 different elephant at the moment. Difference in tusks, ears (notches, holes, tears), tail (with or without hair, amount of hair, kinky or straight)
Vivian: Using the Canon EOS 1DS MkII
Poptart: The transmitter lies loose in the stomach cavity. it floats around in their amongst the intestines and fits into whatever space there is. This one will last 2 years.
Toni-Ann: yes in the stomach cavity. NOT in the stomach. In amonst the intestines. Loose so it can move around as the intestines move.
Kimberley: I think jumping the gun thinking she’s going to be clever!:-)
What an inspired post. Here’s to Whiskey and large litter of pups!
D’oh! Jump the gun? Me? Never.
I get the drift: Gin, whisky, good spirits……what’s the next one….anyway….cheers!
WOW does that look like a good time! I sure wish I could have been the one helping with tagging the leopard!!! Where do I sign up Kim? I just got done watching Animal Planets Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingom, the Great Elephant Rescue. It sure was interesting to watch the rangers move all the elepants the way they did. I believe you had said you were in Krueger, was it at the time this all got started with the elephants in 2003? And were you part of it at all? You said you dont get to see much in the way of programs such as this, I was hoping you could tell us a story from this big relocation if you were there at the time.
Cheers,
Paige
I wasn’t involved in that capture in Kruger. But have been on a capture in kruger where a whole herd of elephant were captured and translocated. Amazing. Carried out so professionally. The elephant were feeding within a couple of minutes of being off loaded on the other end.
Hi Kim
Been trying to get hold of you. I will come down to you on thurs 28th june - thurs 5th july…
Hope these dates are ok with you.
My landline at home is 020-62443
Cell 0912205615
Thanks Brendan.